A study group has discovered that men and women react differently when exposed to zero gravity in space for a long time.

NASA and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute conducted a three-year study involving six working groups that analyzed the health of male and female astronauts during long periods of spaceflight.

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These study groups investigated and consolidated data about spaceflight's effects on men and women. They also examined human adaptation, particularly the cardiovascular, immunological, sensorimotor, muscoskeletal and even reproductive systems and behavior.

The primary goal of these studies is to prepare for future long-duration spaceflights and to deliver new insights about health and safety considerations for astronauts.

Researchers reveal females experience less significant evidence of visual impairment when exposed to microgravity, which is a common health effect seen in space, as opposed to men. Some 82 percent of male astronauts experience this more as opposed to just 62 percent of women astronauts.

These health differences can be taken into account by planners when configuring manned missions.

Other factors such as orthostatic intolerance or the inability to stand for a long time without fainting is more prevalent in women, especially after returning from space compared to their male counterparts.

On board the International Space Station, female astronauts are more prone to space motion sickness compared to men. More men than women experience motion sickness when they return to Earth, however.

Researchers have also seen no evidence of psychological or behavioral differences to spaceflight among the sexes.

TagsHow Men and Women's Bodies React Differently in Space, NASA, male and female astronauts differences effects space zero gravity, ISS, effects of zero gravity